USPSTF Recommends GDM Screening After 24 Weeks

(HealthDay News) – The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening asymptomatic pregnant women for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) after 24 weeks of gestation, according to a final recommendation statement published online Jan. 14 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Researchers from the USPSTF reviewed the evidence relating to the accuracy of GDM screening tests, the benefits of screening before and after 24 weeks of gestation, and the benefits and harms of treatment.

Based on the evidence, the USPSTF recommends screening asymptomatic pregnant women for GDM after 24 weeks of gestation (Grade B recommendation). This recommendation applies to pregnant women without a history of type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus. There is currently insufficient evidence to weigh the benefits and potential harms of screening asymptomatic women for GDM before 24 weeks of gestation (Grade I statement).

"Diabetes that begins during pregnancy can cause serious health problems for expectant mothers and their babies," Virginia A. Moyer, MD, MPH, chair of the Task Force, said in a statement. "The good news is that screening all women after 24 weeks of pregnancy is simple, and can result in better health outcomes for both the mother and the baby."